Is There a Non Surgical Alternative to a Facelift?

April 22, 2018

Can you really rejuvenate your face without going under the knife? There are a number of non-surgical techniques that promise tighter, smoother skin without surgery, but is there really a non-surgical alternative to a facelift.

For many years, surgery was the number one facial rejuvenation procedure, but it has since been eclipsed by non-surgical options such as Ultherapy.A non-surgical facelift is a great way to take a few years off your face, and restore the skin’s youthfulness. It’s the ideal alternative for men and women who are not yet ready for surgery, but are looking to get a fresher, more youthful appearance.

The Ultherapy Uplift

Ultherapy is a minimally invasive skin tightening treatment thatcan enhance your looks, and make you appear more youthful. It uses high intensity focusedultrasound energy to give your face an ‘uplift,’ by elevating deflated areas such as the cheeks, and tightening the jawline.

Ultherapy is FDA cleared to tighten the skin on the face, neck, and under the chin.Unlike other non-surgical options that only tighten the skin, Ultherapy also gives it a subtle lift, which makes the results all the more dramatic.

Ultherapy is a 60 minute procedure, and most people only need one treatment to achieve rejuvenating results. The change may not be radical, but it will definitely be noticeable.

How Ultherapy works to lift and tighten the skin

The ultrasound wand emits sonic waves that target the SMAS layer, which is the layer of connective tissue that provides support for the skin. This is the same layer that is targeted during cosmetic surgery. Ultherapy is the only non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedure that treats thisstructural layer. The ultrasound energy passes through the skin to get to the foundation layer, without disturbing the surface of the skin.

As the time-tested ultrasound energy penetrates the deep layers, it strengthens the skin, and stimulates the body’s natural healing response. The thermal effect created by the ultrasound waves results in the rebuilding of collagen fibers.

Collagen is a natural skin protein that the body produces in large amounts when you are young, but as you age collagen levels diminish, and the skin starts to sag. Ultherapy helps jumpstart collagen production, and this in turn tightens and lifts the skin.

Ultherapy also uses cutting-edge ultrasound imaging, which enhances the accuracy of the treatment. The ultrasound imaging allows medical practitioners to focus the ultrasound energy on the areas it is needed most. This ability to specifically target layers below the skin,contributes to long-lasting and effective results.

Is it painful?

Some discomfort does occur during treatment as the ultrasound energy is being delivered, but this is generally well-tolerated.

How long does it last?

Patients who undergo Ultherapy typicallysee long-term results, because fresh new collagen grows for several months. So although the skin continues to age, it maintains a youthful appearance even after a year has passed.

What to expect

There is generally some tenderness and slight redness after treatment, and a small percentage of patients experience swelling. Side-effects are usually mild and temporary.

Results will appear over the following 2-3 months. You can expect the cheeks to be tighter and lifted, and the jawline will be slimmer and more defined. Tightening the forehead will also enhance the appearance of the brows. Improvements will continue over the following 3 to 6 months.

Are you a good candidate?

If your skin looks and feels less firm than it used to, and you have minimal skin laxity, you may be a good candidate for Ultherapy. If you have sagging eyelid skin and your eyebrows are beginning to shift downward, but you don’t need surgery just yet, Ultherapy may be the right fix for you.

Ultherapy is not a replacement for surgery, but it is certainly beneficial for patients in their 40s who are beginning to show signs of age. Doing Ultherapy at this time will reinforce the facial structures, and allow you to delay the age at which you may want to do plastic surgery in the future.